Effect of chromium on insulin secretion and glucose removal rate in the newborn.

The effect of chromium on glucose removal rate (GRR) was investigated in the first 48 hr of life in 22 full-term newborns. Intravenous glucose tolerance test was performed in all babies in the first 24 hr. GRR was found 1.22 +/- 0.17% min. Sixteen of 22 babies received orally 250 micrograms CrCl3 6 H2O and the other six served as controls (no chromium). Intravenous glucose tolerance test was repeated on the 2nd day in all subjects. In the chromium administered group GRR increased from 1.34 +/- 0.19 to 2.58 +/- 0.45% min (P less than 0.01). In the controls, GRR on 2 consecutive days were found 0.90 +/- 0.36 and 2.04 +/- 0.32% min, respectively (P less than 0.05). The ratio of the difference between two GRR values to initial GRR showed no significant difference between the chromium-administered group and the controls. Chromium did not cause a significant change in plasma insulin. The low GRR observed in the newborn irrespective of administered chromium may be taken as evidence that similar to the relative delay in insulin release, the active role of chromium in plasma as glucose tolerance factor may also be inadequate in the early newborn period.